Schools Out!

Well, we've been on break for two weeks now. The past few days haven't been so fun since I've been sick, but I am feeling better again.

It's been a bit busy too. Last Sunday I preached on Mark 8:28-34. It was a good experience and I felt the Spirit's guidance.

Now we're getting ready to pack up from the "Blue House" in a few days and then head to our home in Yola, or Jimeta as the locals call it (not to be confused with Yola Town where the traditional ruler has his palace).

Staying in this house has had it's ups and downs, but then I guess that's just life in a nutshell. No matter, I'm ready for this chapter to close.

We'll have three weeks in our house in Yola and then come back to start moving into the compound where there are other ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) missionaries. It will be good for us to be on a larger compound again, I like having a little more life around us, even though I tend to be a homebody.

I also look forward to having a larger community to be a part of, I know the kids have missed that a lot. It will be different though, we've never lived around other Americans here in Nigeria, but at least one of our neighbors will be Nigerian/American like us so that will be good.

It's hard to explain how that makes a difference, but I guess it is kind of a tribal thing...though our husbands are from opposite ends of Nigeria. I've been in Nigeria long enough to know that while tribal tendancies can be dangerous, they're also quite understandable....and comfortably familiar.

Perhaps that's what I've missed most these past months, feeling at home in my home. I pray that as we move to our new house it won't take long to feel at home. In December 2008, when we spent a month in our brand new home in Yola, it was home from the moment we walked in the door. I pray that might happen again.

Well, it's time to turn off the gen and go to bed so I'll sign off.

I pray that as you read this, you too feel at home where ever you are.

Dorthea